Creativity on the beach

Every year Children North East organises probably the biggest sandcastle competition in the UK on the beach at South Shields. Last Friday the rain stayed off until 1,600 children from 45 primary and special schools matched with professionals from the building industry had constructed their designs in the sand.

This year's theme was 'Run, Run, Run' echoing the Great North Run which this year will see the 1,000,000th runner cross the finishing line making it the largest participation sport event in the world. Of course the Great North Run starts in Newcastle but ends by the sea in South Shields.

So how do you  illustrate a run using sand? Well the Red Arrows always fly by at the start of the race and perform at the end. Several teams made giant running shoes but how ingenious to pick out the detail in different colour sand? A guitar with driftwood strings refers to local hero Mark Knopfler Dire Straits lead guitarist who will entertain at the start of this year's race - note the paper runners all round his guitar. Would you have thought of Michael Morpurgo's 'Running Wild' - the story of Oona the elephant sensing and running away from a tsunami before it hits? And of course 'Run, run as fast as you can, you can't catch me I'm the Gingerbread Man!' These were just a few of the children's amazing creations in just one hour.

One of my colleagues who works in schools often remarks how wasteful it is that education excites so few children. As you can see from these few examples their potential is so great. Given the right inspiration and encouragement the younger generation could cure cancer, reverse global warming, ensure we can feed everyone on the planet and journey to the stars. We owe it to them and the future of the human race that they get the chance to.